Seattle Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer has a number of lineup decisions to make for MLS Cup against Columbus Crew SC on Saturday night, but one of them may have gotten less complicated.
Ecuadorian center back Xavier Arreaga will almost certainly be unavailable for selection as he is back in Seattle awaiting the birth of his child, head coach Brian Schmetzer told media on Friday.
"He will not be here unless this baby is born healthy and everything and we can get him here somehow by a miracle before the game," Schmetzer said. "But he is expecting his first child, it's a wonderful event when you have children. And so we let him stay there with his wife. When players come to this country and they're by themselves I know he has some help there in Seattle, but it's a challenging thing sometimes. So we're very pleased for Xavier. And he's an important member of our team. And I know he will be with us in spirit."
Arreaga, 26, started 13 games for Seattle in 2020, a number limited due to his involvement with the Ecuadorian national team. He started the final two regular season games for Seattle before Shane O'Neill partnered Yeimer Andrade so far in the playoffs.
The Crew are also without some key players, with Darlington Nagbe and Pedro Santos listed as not medically cleared to play on Saturday.
